The New Jersey Police Chief Magazine | February 2024
NJSACOP Board Member Takes Reigns of the NJ Chapter of the FBI National Academy Associates
Montville Police Chief Andrew Caggiano , the second vice president of the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police ( NJSACOP ), has taken on a new leadership position : president of the New Jersey Chapter of the FBI National Academy Associates , Inc .
Caggiano , slated to become NJSACOP President in 2025 , has earned the distinction of being one of seven NJSACOP leaders who have also been named the state president of this international FBI organization , with more than 14,000 senior law enforcement professionals as members across the globe .
Law enforcement professionals who led both non-profit organizations in New Jersey include these former police chiefs : Chris Leusner of Middle Township , Ryan Vandervalk of Hawthorne , Alfred Smalley of Highland Park , Charles McCoy of Boonton , Raymond Mass of Shrewsbury and R . Bruce Phillips of Holmdel .
Morris County Sheriff James Gannon ( left ) with Chief Andrew Caggiano
“ By having these leadership positions , we have the opportunity to learn the absolute latest in law enforcement and bring that information back to our police departments , making them run even more optimally ,” Caggiano explained . “ As a Chief of Police , it is important that I set an example for other administrators in my police department , as well as our young officers , about stressing the need for continuing education and becoming leaders of our profession , not just in Montville .”
Toward this end , Caggiano was selected to attend a 10-week training course at the FBI Academy in Quantico , VA in 2017 . It was a tremendous achievement , as only 1 % of law enforcement personnel undergo the intensive program . As a graduate of the program , established in 1935 , Caggiano joined an exclusive club of 54,753 professionals who are
Caggiano swears in his board for 2024 deemed alumni . It also gave him the opportunity to serve on the New Jersey board , ultimately taking the reings of president for a one-year term beginning January 30 .
The FBI Course , which includes professionals from across the U . S . and throughout the world , is held four times a year . It focuses on leadership , specialized training , physical fitness and academics . It famously includes the “ Yellow Brick Road ,” a final test , a grueling 6.1-mile run through a hilly , wooded trail that the U . S . Marines constructed .
Along the way , participants must climb walls , run through creeks , jump through simulated windows , scale rock faces with ropes , crawl under barbed wire in muddy water and maneuver across a cargo net .
To date , program graduates hail from 50 states , 194 countries and more than 8,200 law enforcement agencies .
“ It is all about building lifelong relationships and important networking opportunities ,” Caggiano said . “ You have people from all over the world who are training with you . I draw on these experiences all the time as a police chief , reaching out to people all over the country to ask questions , get feedback and get help dealing with situations .”
Members of the Montville Police Department attended the swearing-in ceremony in Belleville on January 30
In his year as president , Caggiano said he will be looking to offer additional training opportunities for state chapter members beyond the four quarterly business meetings each year . He also wanted to enhance the annual state conference , known as “ Retrainer ,” held each October in Atlantic City for an estimated 400 attendees .
Continuing education is key for program graduates , as the FBI is able to offer undergraduate and graduate college credits at the University of Virginia , which can easily transfer to schools across the country .
“ The objective of these highly-regarded professional associations is to never stop learning ,” Caggiano said . “ Between NJSACOP and the FBI National Academy Associates , I continue to find new tools and techniques that I take back to the Montville Police Department . I ’ m very grateful for these leadership opportunities and the many superb professionals I ’ ve had a chance to meet along the way .”